Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell says midfielder Richie Hamill’s left foot is one of the best he’s seen in non-league football.

Hamill, a summer signing from Swale rivals Sheppey, has been a key performer in the Brickies’ excellent start to the Isthmian South East season.

He impressed again on Saturday, setting up goals for Donvieve Jones and Liam Smith, and scoring himself in a 3-0 home win over Three Bridges.

“He’s got that fantastic left foot,” said Maxwell, whose side who 3-0 at struggling Phoenix on Tuesday night thanks to Mitchell May, Jones and Henry Lukombo.

“It’s up there with the best I’ve come across in non-league, and I mean that. It is absolutely brilliant.

“He’s got all different types of passes in his locker, outside of the foot, backspin, sweeping across the pitch, diagonal balls, and his set-pieces are immaculate, so reliable and consistent.”

Maxwell knew he was signing a quality player when he brought Hamill to Sittingbourne in July.

But the ex-Sheppey skipper, 30, has proved to be even better than the Brickies boss realised, helping them to third place in the league.

“Richie’s been a fantastic signing,” said Maxwell.

“I’ve got more than what I thought I was getting. He’s really impressed me.

“He’s a super footballer, a great passer, with great vision, but what’s really impressed me is how good he is out of possession, that he might not get credit for.

“I can promise you he’s been excellent in terms of his work rate.

“He’s really been tremendous in everything he’s done, not just his technical abilities, and I’m really impressed with his character.

“When you’re trying to build a stronger squad, you’ve got to have a look and see what you need and I felt Richie Hamill was someone we needed.

“He’s loving it. He’s started nearly every game and been a very big part of what we’ve done so far.

“He’s experienced but he’s got loads of football left to play - there are a number of years left in Richie.

“He’s showing no signs of slowing down and, if anything, and I’ve said this to him, he’s much fitter than he was when we signed him, so I think he’s a better player than he has been for a few years.”

Maxwell told Hamill he would score on Saturday and so it proved as he found the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Either side of that, his dead-ball prowess set up Jones and skipper Smith as the Brickies maintained their 100% home record in the league.

“It’s a run they are looking to continue when Deal Town visit Woodstock Park this Saturday (3pm).

“The home record had to improve,” said Maxwell.

“A huge reason for the home record not being as good as the away last year was the fact the pitch was not particularly playable at times, and that is a leveller.

“We’ve made a big emphasis on making sure the pitch is better this year.

“It’s something the club and I agreed in the summer and fair play to the maintenance team, they have made it a better surface to play football on, and we’ve got footballers.

“It’s no coincidence we’ve got a better home record now because we can play better football on it.

“The away record last year has to go down to the fact the pitches were better and a lot of them were 3G surfaces, so there’s a lot to be said for that.”

The league appears to be every bit as competitive as Maxwell predicted as Sittingbourne bid to build on last season’s third-placed finish and play-off semi-final appearance.

Beckenham are the surprise leaders, albeit having played more games than everyone else, while Ramsgate, Margate, Burgess Hill and Sheppey are among the others fighting it out for the top spots.

“I think I said the league is going to be the strongest it’s ever been and so far I’ve been proven right on that,” said Maxwell. “I don’t see that changing.

“With the exception of Beckenham, having played more games and being top, it’s what I thought it would be at this particular juncture.

“It’s so competitive, this division. It’s going to be an endurance one. I prepped the boys for this in the summer and we’re ready for that. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Goalkeeper Harley Earle is enjoying a run in the side after regaining his place from Dion Curtis-Henry.

He was set to make his sixth successive appearance against Phoenix.

Curtis-Henry has been out of the matchday squad, with the Brickies naming five outfield substitutes following skipper Bagasan Graham’s return from injury.

But the ex-Peterborough and Crystal Palace man remains on the scene.

“We’ve made a decision to not involve two goalkeepers of late,” said Maxwell.

“Harley had to be patient while Dion was in and now it’s role reversal.

“Competition is healthy in every aspect of football, and life, so you have to be at the ready.

“I think they’re both very good goalkeepers.

“They’ve got different attributes and I think we’re very blessed to have two goalkeepers of that calibre.”

Midfielder Jean-Baptiste Fischer is set to resume full training tomorrow (Thursday) after almost a year out with a knee injury.